HOUSE BILL REPORT

SB 6494

BYSenators Patterson, Conner, Metcalf, Hansen, Owen, DeJarnatt, Barr, Bender and Sellar

Revising provisions for motor vehicle license fees.

House Committe on Transportation

Majority Report:  Do pass.  (20)

      Signed by Representatives Walk, Chair; Baugher, Vice Chair; Betrozoff, Cantwell, Cooper, Day, Doty, Fisher, Fox, Gallagher, Haugen, Jacobsen, Jones, Meyers, Patrick, Prince, Schmidt, Smith, D. Sommers and Sutherland.

Minority Report:  Do not pass.  (3)

      Signed by Representatives Heavey, Kremen and Zellinsky.

House Staff:Terry Michalson (786-7315)

AS PASSED HOUSE FEBRUARY 29, 1988

BACKGROUND:

County auditors are agents of the Director of the Department of Licensing for the registration and renewal of vehicle licenses, receiving one dollar for each transaction.  If a vehicle registration is purchased or renewed at the office of a subagent, the subagent collects a two dollar service charge in addition to the one dollar application fee, with the one dollar application fee transmitted to the county auditor.

The last fee increase occurred in 1975 when it was raised from fifty cents to one dollar.

SUMMARY:

The application fee for a motor vehicle licensing transaction is increased to two dollars.

Fiscal Note:      Available.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:    Fred Saeger, Washington Association of County Officials; Jesus Sanchez, King County Auditor's Office; Jerry McInturff, Skagit County Auditor's Office.

House Committee - Testified Against:      None Presented.

House Committee - Testimony For:    The increase in administrative fees for vehicle license applications is necessary to offset increased administrative costs experienced by the county auditors of the state.  County auditors, especially in the smaller, less populated counties, are presently experiencing costs greater than the current $1.00 fee per application.

House Committee - Testimony Against:      None Presented.